Absentee
Emmy the Great Lyrics
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Old pair of shoes the last place they were left
Out by the door where they always were kept
Brown laces
We stand in line to hear the news
We’ve not been together since Christmas last year
Room full of children all sad in the ear
Small faces
And child’s music playing, playing
Our parents sleep and sleep
They don’t remember the ones they have left
We find the magazines under your bed
Strange pictures
I play out in the street
And trip on the sidewalk all covered in blood
Tears not allowed, I pick myself up
No stitches
Absentee giving liaison
Your memory like disease holds on
The fellow has grown out again
And all, all the fields are yellow
We are CD’s, car keys, diaries
My family kept these secretly
Your memory like disease holds on
Absentee giving liaison, liaison, giving liaison
The song "Absentee" by Emmy the Great, talks about loss, memory, and how people cope with it. The first verse describes the scene of an old pair of shoes left by the door. This simple image, seemingly unimportant, could reveal how memories or reminders of those who are no longer present, like shoes they used to wear, can be a source of longing or pain. The second verse talks about a family gathering, perhaps after a funeral. The children in the room are sad, and child's music is playing, which adds to the feeling of melancholy. The parents are sleeping, and they don't remember the ones they have lost. This part probably refers to someone who has dementia or Alzheimer's disease, where the memories of a loved one slowly fade away.
In the next verse, the singer finds strange pictures under someone's bed. This line is ambiguous, and it's unclear if the pictures are related to the deceased or something else entirely. The following lines describe a child who falls and gets hurt but cannot cry. This could represent the stoicism that people often adopt when dealing with loss, where they try to keep their emotions in check even though they are hurting inside. The chorus then repeats the words "Absentee giving liaison," which is a mysterious and intriguing phrase. It seems to suggest a connection between the living and the dead, where the absentee gives a liaison or message to the living.
Overall, "Absentee" is a poignant and evocative song that captures the complex emotions surrounding loss and memory. The lyrics are full of vivid and sometimes cryptic images that hint at a deeper meaning. The mournful melody and Emmy the Great's haunting vocals add to the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Wandered by for everyone
I came by to visit everyone
Old pair of shoes the last place they were left
Your old shoes are still in the same spot where you left them
Out by the door where they always were kept
They are still by the door like they always were
Brown laces
The laces on the shoes are brown
We stand in line to hear the news
We gather together to hear what's happening
We’ve not been together since Christmas last year
We haven't seen each other since Christmas last year
Room full of children all sad in the ear
A room full of sad children listening to the news
Small faces
The children have small faces
And child’s music playing, playing
Childhood music is playing in the background
Our parents sleep and sleep
Our parents are sleeping a lot
They don’t remember the ones they have left
Our parents have memory loss and can't remember people they care about
We find the magazines under your bed
We found some magazines under your bed
Strange pictures
The pictures in the magazine are strange
I play out in the street
I play outside in the street
And trip on the sidewalk all covered in blood
I trip on the sidewalk and get a bloody injury
Tears not allowed, I pick myself up
I can't cry, so I pick myself up and keep going
No stitches
I don't need stitches for my injury
Absentee giving liaison
I am absent and giving a message through someone else
Your memory like disease holds on
I can't forget you and it's like a disease
The fellow has grown out again
Someone has grown and changed again
And all, all the fields are yellow
All the fields are yellow for some reason
We are CD’s, car keys, diaries
We are a collection of CDs, car keys, and diaries
My family kept these secretly
My family kept these things as a secret
Absentee giving liaison, liaison, giving liaison
I am absent and giving a message through someone else
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: EMMA MOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind